§ 22. Mr. EVERARDasked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the Minister of Agriculture, whether, as the present Regulations are not preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and are causing very heavy losses to those residing in agricultural and hunting areas, he will consider a reduction of the 15-mile restricted area and make the restrictions in a smaller area stricter?
§ Major Sir HARRY BARNSTON (forThe Regulations governing restricted areas were fully considered by the three Departmental Committees of 1912, 1922 and 1924, all of which recommended adherence to the 15-mile area. It is, however, the practice to reduce this area to one of five miles from the infected centre or centres after the lapse of a period of 14 days, should no spread of the infection take place. The movement of all animals within a radius of two miles of an infected place is entirely prohibited, and it would not be practicable to make the restrictions more stringent than they are now within an area of smaller radius.
§ Mr. EVERARDI beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at an early date.